In Note of Concern things take a turn for old school friends Scott (Will Evans) and Alec (Jordan Monks) when they get trapped in a classroom during their High School reunion. Secrets are uncovered, old feuds are rehashed, and the body of their old teacher Mrs Cruickshank is found in the supply cupboard.
Produced by Fast Snail Productions and written by Evans and Monks, this show is a one act play that looks at growing up, growing apart, and the unseen turmoil people face alone.
Both Evans and Monks seem to thrive in the realist and naturalistic style of the play – of course it does help that they themselves wrote it so have a greater understanding of the tonality of the piece. Stephanie Austin’s direction made for a snappy and fluid show, with the actors delivering refined performances. Although not plot heavy (being staged in the one room within a small time frame) Note of Concern flew by, keeping us engaged and charmed the whole way through. The ending seemed a little abrupt – we see the characters managing to escape the room in time for Alec to make his head boy speech without a conclusive resolution. There was a dead body in the cupboard so I feel maybe the main concern would have been dealing with that rather than making speeches on nostalgia. I feel the underscoring of his speech too took away from the impact of this final monologue, but nonetheless the content of this show was still very amusing and heartfelt.
The set was simple, but for Fringe standards, very well done with a blackboard, desks and a door flat. The spacing was utilised well, with the entrance door being incorporated into the staging as well as the flat for the cupboard. In all, this was an endearing play which was both acted and directed well, especially given the simplistic nature of the piece. Again, I do think the ending could be developed with some minor adjustments to the writing. A lot was addressed in the play, from their discovery that their least favourite teacher’s cruelty was due to their own misbehaviour to the discussion of their friendship’s demise. Perhaps it was not all successfully concluded, but this was nonetheless an enjoyable snapshot into the lives of Alec and Scott and the harsh realisations that come with aging. Comedic and touching, this was a very sweet and solid watch from a grass-roots company that is sure to get bigger and better the further they develop.
Note of Concern runs until the 16th of August at theSpace on the Mile, with tickets available at https://www.thespaceuk.com/shows/2025/
Reviewer: Jessie Martin
Reviewed: 11th August 2025
North West End UK Rating: